Accordion



June 5, 1934. T. G. LARSON 1,961,152

ACCORDION Filed Aug. 19, 1932 Zhwentor THEODORE 6. [A ESO/V attorneys Iatented dune 5, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCORDION Theodore G.Larson, Bedford, Ohio Application August 19, 1932, Serial No. 629,511

Claims. (01. 84-376) This invention relates broadly to musicalinstruments and more specifically to improvements in accordions, theprimary object thereof being the provision of means for securing a toneof 5 superior quality throughout the entire scale range of theinstrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sound deflecting mediumwhich is organized to be influenced by the vibratory actions of the aircolumn and sound waves throughout the entire scale range of theinstrument so that the resultant vibrations upon the deflector per sewill be a mean periodicity of the reactions of the high and .low pitchtones.

" A further object of the invention is to provide a sound deflectingchamber which is compact in proportion to the instrument, harmonizeswith the lineation of the accordion, is relatively light ....in weightand sturdy of construction.

' I-Ieretofore, various expedients have been proposed with a view ofamplifying, softening or otherwise affecting the tone quality ofaccordions, the apparatus more frequently suggested contemplating achamber embracing a zone super- 'jacent the reed holders and formed withan opening at one end of the instrument or with an outlet passage sorestricted as to effectuate a deleterious result upon the resonance oftone emitted. Regardless of the theory upon which the particularconstruction of such devices has been based, it may be stated withreasonable assurance that such apparatus has not materially improved thetone of the instrument but on the contrary has accentuated the soundvolume of the reeds contiguous the opening or muffled and distorted thetone quality of the instrument.

The present invention comprises a device which deflects and comminglesthe sound waves emitted from the valve chamber of the accordion anddirects the travel of such waves in a manner which causes the productionof tones of full rich depths and improved resonance.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an accordionembodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the resonator, and

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on a plane indicated by the line33 in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the accordion designated at 5generally embodies a keyboard 6 and what is herein termed a valvechamber '7 which is provided with valved reed blocks 8 '--havingoperative connections with the keys 9.

The chamber 7 is simply that area around the reed blocks and valveswhich in the conventional accordion is covered by a decorative meshworkor like covering to exclude dust from the valves.

Mounted upon the body of the accordion and above the valve chamber 7there is a tone chamber or deflector casing comprising a plurality ofplates 10 and 11 and a bell 12. The device, as a whole, extendssubstantially the entire width of the valve chamber and is formed withwell rounded curvelinear paths in the manner and of such materials asknown to be most eflicient in the art of acoustics. The sound wavesemitted from the valve chamber 7 first contact with the plate 10 and arethen directed in a tortuous path over the p 1 wall 11 and through thebell 13. The material employed in each of the walls 10 and 11, thestructural support and the proportions thereof is adapted to effect asympathetic vibration of suitable cadence to cause the sound wavesthroughout the entire pitch range of the instrument to be commingled andso modified as to soften or delete the harsh rasping tones consequentthe vibratory period of certain of the reeds or the harmonies resultingfrom the unrestrained reactive periodicity thereof. As illustrated twodeflectors are shown but it will be understood that any practical numbermay be provided to lengthen the path of sound wave travel and thus varythe resonance and tone quality produced therethrough by the deflectorwalls or tone baiile plates. It is preferred, however, that the tortuouspassage provided by the arrangement of the deflectors l0 and 11 be ofprogressively increasing depth from the inlet to the outlet thereof andthat the terminating end be well rounded or bell mouthed as illustratedherein.

Practical experience has proven that the tone of an accordion ismaterially improved by the organization and disposition of the component5" parts of the deflectors herein arranged. For instance, modificationafiecting the vibratory period of the plates 10 and 11 result indampening the resonance of tone of the device, and furthermore, lateralalterations which limit air column 6 passage way and restrain thereaction upon the baflle plates have likewise been found to producetones of an inferior quality.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailedcharacter, in order that the 6 invention may be completely set forth, itis to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts andmodiflcations of structural detail may be resorted to without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. In an accordion having a valve chamber, a tone resonator mounted oversaid valve chamber, comprising a housing in communication with saidvalve chamber throughout its area and having an outlet opening, andplates one of which at least being formed of a material of resonantcharacteristics, mounted in said housing in superposed relation, eachplate extending from opposite walls of the housing and having an edgethereof in spaced relation to a wall of the housing to produce atortuous path through said resonator.

2. In an accordion having a valve chamber, a tone resonator mounted oversaid valve chamber, comprising a housing formed of resonant materials incommunication with said valve chamber throughout its area and having anoutlet opening, and plates mounted in said housing extending throughoutthe length thereof and arranged in superposed relation, each plateextending from opposite walls of the housing and having an edge thereofin spaced relation to a wall of the housing to produce a tortuous paththrough said resonator, said plates being formed of resonant materialsusceptible to vibrating reaction from the vibrations initiated in thevalve chamber.

3. In an accordion having a valve chamber, a tone resonator, comprisinga housing having an intake and an outlet opening, the intake openingbeing arranged over the valve chamber, and a plate formed of a materialof resonant characteristics extending from a wall of the housing andarranged in spaced relation to the opposite wall of the housing toproduce a tortuous path through the housing, said plate being disposedsubstantially across the area of the intake opening of the housing andthe Valve chamber to receive the vibratory reactions emanating from thevalve chamber.

4. In an accordion having a plurality of valve operated reeds within acommon chamber, a tone resonator comprising, side and end walls and atop wall spaced to form an opening adjacent one of the side walls, avibration responsive plate mounted above said valves and extendingthroughout the reed and valve zone of said chamher, a second platedisposed thereover and in spaced relation thereto, said platesconstituting a tortuous path for the emission of SOlllld from saidchamber.

5. In an accordion having a valve chamber, with reeds therein, a toneresonator comprising a wall formed of resonant material and configuralsubstantially U shaped in transverse section said wall being arrangedwith one of the legs thereof above the valves to receive the vibrationsfrom the reeds, a second wall joining the body of the accordion andextended intermediate the legs of said U shaped section, end platesjoining said walls, the upper leg of said U shaped section and the saidsecond wall being arranged to define an opening for the emission ofsound from said valve chamber.

THEODORE G. LARSON.

